Please Chance Me! Duke is my dream school!

Colleges & Universities Duke University
1

<p>I go to a suburban high school in Seattle, Washington…A very competitive high school that sends 5-8 kids to Stanford alone every year.</p>

<p>I am applying to Trinity ED
Stats:
White Male
ACT: 32 (34 if you superscore)
SAT II: Chemistry-710, Math Level 2- 750
GPA: 4.0/4.0 (UW)
Class Rank: 1/362</p>

<p>Activities and Awards:
-Editor-in-chief (12), Editor (11) of nationally recognized school newspaper</p>

<p>-President (12), Vice-President (11) of Mercer Island Youth and Family Services Advisory Board (appointed by the mayor)- developed marketing strategy and recruited advertising agencies to complete pro-bono work. Also researched other functioning youth hotlines and expanded program to develop instant message chat rooms for troubled teens.</p>

<p>-Vice-President (11,12) of Teen Link Youth Crisis Hotline in Seattle, Washington (was my activities essay)-recommend goals, policies, and programs for MIYFS, amend and develop city bylaws, initiated program that provides high school teens with a safe, sober car ride home on saturday nights.</p>

<p>-Logistics Chair (9,10), Ceremonies Chair (11,12) of American Cancer Society’s executive board for Relay for Life- since participated annual donation total has increased from 20,000 to over 50,000</p>

<p>-Program Mentor (11) for VOICE/SVP summer volunteer program for middle school/high school students.</p>

<p>-Secretary (12) of Model UN club at high school.</p>

<p>-National Chemistry Olympiad Finalist (top 1,000 out of 10,000)</p>

<p>-Regional Chemistry Olympiad Winner</p>

<p>-Hip-Hop Dancing- (my main personal statement), started at age 9, performed at Seattle Supersonics basketball games, won regional competitions, asked to be represented by talent agency in LA.</p>

<p>-MIYFS Influential Youth Award Recipient-11</p>

<p>-UBC Critical Reader Award- Selected by Dean of Admissions at University of British Columbia Medical School to be one of three pre-undergraduate students to review his new publication</p>

<p>-Infinity Pharmaceuticals, inc- interned for 2 weeks at a major company in Cambridge, Mass associated with Harvard and MIT (many professors, undergrads work here). I wrote about this in the “research” part of the Duke Supplement</p>

<p>Please let me know what you think! Duke is my DREAM school, it is the perfect place for me. Thanks for all your time!</p>

2

<p>good shot>>as a fellow applicant, good luck!</p>

3

<p>Your ECs are excellent, but your test scores won’t give you an advantage. Duke is a really competitive school, and I go to a very competitive school, where we send 25+ students to Ivy Leagues every year, and 70% get into UMich. Last year, 3 of our kids got accepted to duke, and their ACT scores were 33-36, and GPA 4.2-4.5 Weighted (3.85-4.0 UW). I would say that you have a fairly good chance.</p>

4

<p>dude YOU’RE IN</p>

5

<p>thanks I hope so! Any other opinions please?</p>

6

<p>How in the world did you do so well on the National Chemistry Olympiad Competition and still only get 710 on the SAT II Chemistry?</p>

7

<p>At most top schools there is no certainty in admissions processes. For example my S East Coast High School valedictorian had sores and EC’s that rival or beat most of the kids accepted by Stanford. Essays I am sure were great etc. On paper one of the strongest students any school could ask for. Stanford deferred or rejected several other kids with equally great stats, grades etc. I do beleive that admisisons do get to know some High Schools and have some bias based on the past performance of other students and their likelihood of attendance if selected. At this level the schools look to many factors in admissions. On paper you have an excellent chance, but that alone is never a guarentee. I would think if you applied ED you would be highly probable. I have a bias towards Duke given my S attends and loves it, but fine school that best suits your goals and if its Duke then great apply ED.</p>

8

<p>roryduhman don’t pretend that you don’t know me</p>

9

<p>haha funny Matt.</p>

<p>As for ring<em>of</em>fire, I had a bad test day for my SAT II. I was planning on retaking them, but I figured that I would best serve myself by spending more time working on my essays and my entire app. I didnt think a 710 was great, but I also do not think it is a bad enough score to invalidate my other accomplishments with chem olympiad, working in a research facility in boston, etc. But you are right, I should have scored higher.</p>

<p>Thanks for your response bfg. Duke IS the place that I want to be for the next 4 years. I am certain.</p>